– rainbow of music –

Category: Female Singer

After enthralling the European mainland, Nele Needs a Holiday are finally releasing their album, Love Yeah, in March. Rolling up to join the likes of Amanda Palmer and Adam Green, Nele’s (not pronounced Nelly but Nailer) heart is in her lyrics, the kind of involved, introspective observations which feel like diary posts as much song lyrics. As such, her wry observations of life and, specifically on this album, love, are not the kind of processed, cliches you’ll find in a zillion other songs but instead darkly comic, personal and sometimes acerbic.

Marrying up with her sound, Nele Needs a Holiday have a touring band of 7 female musicians, the whole cast appearing in matching costumes – this is entirely in keeping with their slightly cabaret, strangely English image (somewhere between the Bonzos and Divine Comedy), which is all the more confusing given they’re from Belgium.

Lead track, ‘We’ll See’, is, to throw a spanner in the works, is a far more poignant, reflective piece, with a nod towards soul as well as classical female singer-songwriters. Equally impressive is Nele’s expressive voice which is completely huggable and lovely. Check out the track above and look out for the album, a classic in the making.

It’s not often that a collection of songs captures the imagination in a way that is both innovative, and steeped in history, but this is exactly what Julia Mascetti has achieved with her new EP – In Distance, Everything is Poetry.

Growing up in the UK, Julia was raised on a solid diet of English folk music and storytelling, but took to the harp after relocating to Tokyo to live with her boyfriend. It was at this point that her new passion for the harp was born, and inevitably, the cross pollination of her influences began.

Her lead track In Bloom is a haunting, crawling mish-mash of sound and emotion, driven by a dreamlike, picked harp that weaves in and out of subtle, tasteful sonic details that decorate the production of the track. It is this attention to detail that gives the track its brooding, dream like atmosphere, providing the perfect platform for Julia’s storytelling to really shine.

If you’re a fan of Joanna Newsom, Nick Cave or Kate Bush, Julia’s new EP will not disappoint. Check out a live version of In Bloom here and be sure to pick up In Distance, Everything is Poetry on the 10th of November!

Ms. Mohammed has very effectively and elegantly carved her own brand of female led ‘island punk’ in a very short space of time. She likens herself to Grace Jones & PJ Harvey, which is evident in her empowered, goddess/ vampire like image and punk fuelled drive. However I would also argue this descriptive mixing pot needs some Kate Bush to truly represent Ms. Mohammed. Theres a definite sense that one day she may well be considered a creative genius.

Ms. Mohammed’s new ‘Alibi E.P’ is angry, heartfelt and clever selection of songs. You can tell she means every word that she spits through gritted teeth on this E.P. Ms. Mohammad has definitely managed to capture a sense of discontent and unrest on this E.P, a blanket that seems to be covering the UK since brexit. Given that she came to the UK from Trinidad its something that I’m sure she feels passionately about!

As it says in her press release for the E.P – Ms. Mohammad is ‘A champion of religious and cultural tolerance and supporter of LGBT rights, Ms Mohammed is challenging prejudice through her music.’ All of which makes her all the more interesting and also more admirable.

Leading track ‘Alibi’ pulls you in like an angry, fuzzy, distorted fishing line. While the relentless fuzzy guitar and pulsating, almost tribal Drums behind her pull the songs onwards, Mohammed floats her voice in a sea of reverb, giving it a dreamy quality whilst however you feel as though every word is said with spitting blood.

She means it, you should hear it – watch the spooky music video for Alibi below

You may remember Souli Roots from her brief stint on X factor back in 2013 or from her appearance at Wembley’s SSE Arena. How she has developed as an artist since then is something to behold.

‘World Peace Expression’ is the follow up after the success of her drum and bass inspired debut ‘This is the place’ . It’s obvious from the very start of the track how much Souli Roots has developed as an artist, as she brings in tribal African drums layered with psychedelic instrumentation. Her powerful vocals echo over the track as she calls for the next generation to ‘clean up this mess’.

Take a listen here: https://soundcloud.com/souliroots/world-peace-expression-available-now

Neethusha is a versatile artist/singer-songwriter, who can sing anything from ballads to rock music, singing what she likes singing:

“I write sweet, happy songs when I am happy, sad songs when I am sad, and if I want to make you dance I will compose an EDM track”

This diverse and versatile attitude is what has lead to her new single ‘Why Did I Lose You’.

Why Did I Lose you can be heard here:

The beautifully romantic and sad ballad displays her influence from acts such as Shania Twain and Celine Dion. The song is dedicated to all those who have lost someone, “Sometimes life brings you the most wonderful people into your life, and just when your heart has grown immensly fond of them, rips them away from you. The only option we have, is to struggle, accept the pain and move on.” The emotional message behind the song can be clearly seen through the lyrics and heard by the expressive emotion in her voice.

Neethushas’s Indian upbringing and heritage could have got in her way, but her determination, drive and ‘voice in her head’, telling her not to back down, kept her going and got her to where she is today. And we couldn’t be happier.

Confounding expectations, Modiwo have emerged from the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains to become one of the country’s breakout musical success stories, whilst also giving their time to support charity projects around the world. Initially forming in order to provide entertainment for local orphanages and retirement projects, demand for the band’s music grew to such a scale that they agreed to become a band in their own right.

With their diverse backgrounds from Romania, Ukraine, Moldova and Hungary, their completely unique and captivating dream-like pop sound is a clear example of the band working together in harmony to create a blissfully uplifting track that fills the listener with positivity and warmth.

The video to Never Give Up can be watched here:

After taking over their home countries with their music, they have also started getting involved with the charity Fruit Fusion, which offers audiences attending gigs to pay with fruit instead of money, which then gets donated to local orphanages, in conjunction with The Bureau of Children’s’ Rights Protection. An average show can deliver up to 700kg of fruit to those most deserving. Modiwo carry this living ethos through to their own lifestyles and into their music, using their music as a form of relaxation therapy. Their positive and uplifting vibes can be clearly felt through their new track.

Norwegian pop sensation Line Mari is set to release her debut album ‘21 Days’ on Friday 16th December.

The album is a refreshing break from the usual pop music culture. As a whole, Line Mari’s powerful collection of harmonies delivers a unique electro-pop sound, with a rock infused edged. One particular highlight is Line Mari’s most recent single ‘Haters’ which sees Line Mari laying her gorgeously wispy vocals over brooding pianos before erupting into a soaring chorus to a backdrop of tropical-tinged synths.

Line Mari was born in Tromsø, also living for some time in Svalbard, one of the most Northernly inhabited places in the world. As a child, she grew up regularly witnessing the beauty of the Northern Lights, as well as once having a close encounter with a polar bear whilst at Kindergarten. Line Mari dreamt of being a musician from birth, dancing in the womb as her mother explains. Although shy at first, by the time she was in her teens Line Mari was writing her own songs and performing. Her shyness has fuelled her songwriter, making her lyrics more personal, emotive and introspective.